Day 11
CANCELLATION OF ALL ACTIVITIES
But not the giant game of Red Light, Green Light that we are all
in the middle of playing
you do not see me move
if you see me move I am dead
if I don’t have the right certificate
filled in with an indelible black ink pen
thank you mr. policeman good luck mr. policeman
and tonight at 8:00 I’ll have a thought for you when
my neighbors applaud
public service
not me I do not applaud because I respect the rules
NO PHYSICAL CONTACT yes even between
my two hands
long live the police mr. policeman
you have a terrific career
terrific
and I know people who don’t respect the rules
who touch each other
and who DO ACTIVITIES
I have in my pocket their first names last names and social security
numbers
but me I cannot take out the paper
mr. policeman
because it might be contaminated
mr. minister has done a great deal of work
if I could take you into my arms
if I could only
no tonight nothing
tomorrow nothing
and no longer the other days
I stay on my sofa the whole day
my face the farthest away possible from the rest of
my body
to avoid the reflex to touch it
BECAUSE THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS
I am going to tell you: I love this period
all the more because I’ve set aside my toilet paper reserves
so it’s beautiful this lockdown
I for one want to it to last as long as possible
because at least there is no one on the streets
no more people who make noise
no more people at all
But I know there are those who make noise and don’t wear their masks
I’ll call you right away to give you their names
thank you again mr. policeman
and take care of yourself
HASHTAG TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
but when your back is turned I will have the right
to move
It’s the rule of the game
Guillaume Marie, french version here